Fuel control mechanism



1933- w. c. LINDEMANN ET AL 1,937,522

FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwewcozs 1933- w. c. LINDEMANN El AL 1,937,522

FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED ST TES T N OFF CE- FUEL CONTROL MECHANISM I Walter C. Lindemann and Adolph T. Schmidt, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to A. J. Lindemann & HoversonCompany, Milwaukee,'Wis., a cor.- poration of Wisconsin 2 Application Novemhen 29,I 1929 Serial No. 410,328 I A 10 Claims. (01. 158-81) The present improvements relate, in general,

to stoves,-1amps, lanterns, and the like which are adapted to employ fluid hydrocarbon as fuel wherein the fuel is conducted to a generatorand a novel arrangement of parts for preparingfuel v for a vapor burner which is suitable alike for initial lighting or continuous combustion purposes. A further object is to'provide means for regulating and varying the character of the fuel supplied from a tank or reservoir and insuring the necessary fuel components under various conditions. Another object is to provide a novel control mechanism associated with a fuel reservoir having liquid fuel under air pressure wherein a fuel mixture of varying content may be formed from the elements'within the tank. A further object is to provide a device of the'foregoing character wherein 'a rich or lean fuel mixture may be had at'will, and one in which the air pressure for conveying the iiquid'fuel is not materially reduced by reason of employing a portion of same in preparing a fuel mixture. g

' A still further object of the improvements is to provide a unitary structure embodying, among others, the features aforementioned. It is obvious that a device of this character mustnecessarily have portions thereof exposed to the liquid and air spaces of the supply tank and that it is frequent- 1y operated in daily use. Furthermore, the mechanism'may receive abuse or injury at the hands of careless or indifferent operators. For these and other reasons, it is preferable to provide a composite unit which may be readily removedfor cleaning, repairs or replacement. It'is therefore, a further (object of the improvements .to provide a unit of "the type indicated which may be readily removed from and replaced into operative relation withthe fuel tank andsupplypipe to the generator without disturbing these elements. In accomplishing this object; a novel form of sealing means has been provided wherein the applica-' tion of the unit to operative position, concurrently provides a seal between the tank, supply pipe and removable unit, as well as a seal between these elements and the outside atmosphere. Another object is to'provide a removable unit generator 6 is designated in general a515, This of the foregoing character in combinationwith'a fuel-tank and supply conduit wherein the. unit when screwed home into operative position, will provide communication between the tank and conduit regardless ofthe location of the'conduit 0 relative tothe fuel passages of the unit. To improve the efliciency and simplifyv the operation of vapor burning devicesfin' general, constitutes a further object of the invention. Other objects and advantages of theimprovements will be apparent upon reference tothe accompanying specification and. drawings in which i f p H Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a vaporburning lamp, illustrating one embodiment of the. present improvements; 4 V I I .Fig. 2' is an enlarged sectional view of the removable unit, mounted in the wall of; afuel tank. Referring to-the drawings, the lamp Llincludes the burner or mantle 5, the generator or vaporizer 6,':fuel supply pipe or conduit 7- andfuel supply tank orre servoir 8. Filling means 9 is provided on thereservoir whereby liquid fuel may be poured into the liquid space F to the level indicated. An air pump, conventionallyshown at 10, is also provided for injecting air into the reservoir wherebythe liquid fuel is maintained under air pressurewhich obtains above the liquid level in the airspace A. Although the improvements have been illustratedin connection with a vapor burning lamp, it is olovious'that they are applicable to vapor'burning devices, in gene eral, such as lanterns, stoves and the like-and are therefore not to; be limited to the illustrated application. p g I The wall of the tank 8 is apertured to receive the collar or bushing 11 which is fixed in the illustrated position in any suitable manner; A port 12 is provided in the wall of the bushing. In the illustrated embodiment, portions :of the bushing are disposed outside and inside the tank, a port 12 being provided in the wall of the inside portion in which the fuel supply conduit 7 is fixed, whereby said conduit communicates with the inner area of the bushing. While this conduit may, with other changes, be communicably connected with theoutside portion of the bushing,- it is apparent that in the arrangement illustrated, the conduit and connection are com pletely concealed from View. Itis notablethat the bushing 11 is bored to. several diametersfor providing the annular shoulders 13 and l}.

The removable unit for supplying mixed fuel or only liquid-fuel as-desired to pipe 7 and the ing through suitable packing means 27.

unit includes the valve body 16 whose exterior is turned to several diameters for providing annular shoulders 17 and 18. The body 16isexteriorly screw threaded for engagement with complementary threads on the interior of bushing 11. As illustrated the valve body is bored longitudinally to several diameters for provid ing communicating channels or ducts 19 and 20. A conical valve seat 21 is thus formed between these channels and the inlet portion of channel isalso suitably bored to provide another'valve seat 22. The exterior of the valve body 16 is provided with a groove or annular channel 23 which is in constant'communication with channel 19 through the radially disposed passage 24. in A valve member 25 has threaded engagement with the outer end of the boreof valve body 16 and has an actuating knob or handle 26 extend- This member 25 has a conical head 28 for seating on seat 21, so that communication between channels 20 and 19*may be controlled by advancing or retracting the'valve by turning knob 26. A rod or stem 29 is fixed tovalve member 25 and is of smaller diameter than said member. This rod projects axially oi the member for a substantial distance as seen in Fig. 2, and partakes in all movements of said valve member. A pipe or'tube 30 of slightly larger diameter than rod 29, surrounds said rod so that an annularchannel or passageway 31 is provided between the two.

The upper end of pipe 30 is provided-with one or more notches 32 which forms an opening through the wall of the pipe from channel 31 to the exterior. The oppositeend of the pipe 30 carries a cap 33 which is apertured to provide a restricted inlet 34 to channel 31, the'rod' 29 extending through said inlet in one position of the device. A tension spring35' has one end fixed to cap33 and the other end anchored to neck 36 of the valve body 16 s that the tube 30 is resiliently held with its notched end against the inner end of valvemember 25; As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2,- a valve plug 37 is dried to pipe 30, having aconical head in alignment with valve seat 22;

The unitary structure just described may be inserted Very conveniently and easily into operative V position in the tank. Annular gaskets 38 are provided so that when the valve body 16 is screwed into the bushing 11, they'will interpose compleing.

mentary shoulders on these members thereby forming a double seal between thebody and bush- It is notable that when the unit is screwed home, the inlet 34 to tube 30 is disposed beneath the liquid levelof the tank and adjacent the bottom thereof, while the inlet to-channel- 20 at the valve seat 22 is disposed in the-air-pressure region A of the tank. In this position of the unit, it is seen that the annular channel 23 is in register with port 12 and pipe ,7. Due to theprovisionof this channel 23, corrnrm nication isalways established between pipe 7 and channel 19' regardless of the position of passage24 relative to port 12'. It is possible that the thickness of the gaskets 38 i or other factors may cause passage 24' to be dis posed out of' alignment with port 12, i. e.,' ina position other than that illustrated in Fig. 2- As aforementioned, however, this possibility. will not prevent communication between these members due to the peripheralchannel' 23. I

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that liquid-fuel may be supplied to pipe '7 from the tank throughinlet 34, channel31, notch 32, channel 19, passage 24, channel 23 and port 12. the tank may be supplied to pipe '7 through the inlet at seat 22, channel 20, channel 19, passage 24, channel 23 and port 12. Both the air and liquid passages just outlined areclosed and sealed in the illustrated position byxvalve. 28 seating at seat 21.' In this position, the valve 28 bearing against the end of tube 30, is holding the said tube against the tension of spring 35 and likewise is holding valve 37 on said tube away from seat 22. It is apparent that leakage of air between the valvebody and; bushing to pipe '7 is prevented by the gasket 38 between shoulders 13 and 17, so that the air pressure cannot be lost through leakage to they pipe. Leakage to the outside atmosphere islikewise prevented by this seal, which is supple- I mented. by the gasket 38 between shoulders '14 and 18 at a point just beyond the tank wall. Accordingly; the efficiency of the organization has not been impaired or sacrified in the provision of'a removable unitf The operation of the assembled structure is similar to that described in theaforementioned copending application. With liquid fuel under air pressure inthe reservoir, the valve 28 may be opened slightly by turning knob 26; This allows liquid fuel entering tube 30 at inlet 34 to unite,

with air entering channel 20' at 22, at the top of tube 30 so that a mixture of liquid fuel and air passes intochannel 19 around valve member 25,

through passage 24, channel 23, port 12.to pipe upon liquid fuel. only passes to the generator where it is vaporized for continued use by the burner. It is obvious that by suitablemanipulation of the mechanism, a rich or lean mixture. may be 0b'- tained and that both the air andliquid passing to the generator may be'simultaneously controlled and, regulated. The manner in which these results are accomplished is more specifically de-- scribed in our'copending application.

Should it become necessary to remove the unit 15 for cleaning, repairs or replacement, itis ob-' vious'that this may readily be accomplished by merely unscrewingv the valve body 16 and removing it from the bushing 11. This may be performedwithout, in any way, disturbing the bush:

ing orits connection with pipe {7. Subsequent in- Likewise, air from the airpressure. region of sertion of the unitis likewise readily accomplished 4 bymerely screwing the valve body into'the' bush ing. When this is done,-the, unit is, at once, in in operative position ready to perform its ascribed functions without the necessity of any further attention such as making, connectionswith: pipe 7.

All this is automatically or sealingthe joints, etc. accomplished when the unit is screwedihome to its final positiona V The ease and simplicity with which the unit 15 may be inserted and removed cannot be overestimated." In providing a structure of this character with all its attendant advantages, it'is notable that none of the advantagesv of a permanent or. fixed installation have been sacrificed. In fact many added advantages have been derived. Aside from providing a removable member which permits the'free passage of fuel to an outlet within the tank, the present improvements afford the assurance that when the unit is placed in operative position in the tank, it is tightly sealed both with respect to the connection 7 as well as to the outer atmosphere. I

Various modifications withinthe scope of the present improvements will be apparent to those 7 skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the purview of the invention.

We claim:

I 1. In combination, a fuel supply reservoir having liquid fuel under air pressure, a fuel pipe leading from said reservoir, a carbureting structure for supplying mixed fuel and air to said'pipe, said structure being removable as a unit from operative position without disturbing said reservoir or pipe.

2. In combination, a fuel supply reservoir, having liquid fuel under air pressure, a fuel pipe leading from said reservoir, a carbureting structure disposed within the reservoir for supplying mixed fuel and air to said pipe, said structure having control means operable exterior to said reservoir, said structure beihg removable as a unit from said reservoir without disturbing said reservoir or pipe.

3. In combination, a fuel supply reservoir having liquid fuel under air pressure, a fuel pipe leading from said reservoir, a selective control a means comprising a unitary structure for supplying individual fuel or mixed fuel and air to said pipe, said means having a single actuating member operable from the exterior of said reservoir and being removable without disturbing said reservoir or pipe.

4.'A removable control unit for fuel tanks adapted to regulate the flow of fuel therefrom comprising a valve body having a longitudinal bore communicating with a port in the periphery thereof, inlets for said bore spaced from'one another whereby one may be located inthe liquid space of a tank and another in the air space thereof, and a single valve mechanism controlling communication between said inlets. and bore.

5. A fuel supply tank having a bushing disposed through a wall thereof, a fuel supply pipe communicating with said bushing, annular shoulders formed on the interior of said bushing on either side of said pipe communication, a valve body disposed in said bushing and having a longitudinal bore communicating with said pipe, said valve body having complementary annular shoulders aligned with said first named shoulders, packing means between complementary shoulders, means communicating said bore with said tank at spaced points, and means controlling the passage of fuel through said bore to said pipe.

6. A fuel tank having liquid fuel under air pressure, fuel outlet means for said tank including a valve body having a bore communicating with the airspace of the tank, a movable-pipe establishing communication between said bore and the liquid space of the tank, a valve controlling said bore and pipe, spring means secured to said valve body and pipe for maintaining said pipe in contact with saidvalve, and a valve respon sive to movements of said pipe positioned for controlling the air inlet to said bore. 7

7. A fuel supply device for hydrocarbon burners comprising a tank containing liquid fuel under air pressure having a space above the liquid level, a bushing disposed through a wall of said tank, a fuel supply pipe communicating with said bushing, a valve body disposed in-said bushing 7 comprising a tank containing liquid fuel under air pressure having a space above the liquid level, a bushing disposed through a wall-of said tank, a fuel supply pipe communicatingjwith said bushing, a valve body disposed in said bush ing having a longitudinal bore communicating with said air space, a peripheral channel on said body communicating with said bore and pipe, a

valve controlling said bore, a conduit for admit-.

ting liquid fuel to said bore, a valve controlling said conduit and a common actuating member for simultaneously actuating both valves.

9. A fuel supply device for hydrocarbon burners comprising a tank containing liquidfuel under air pressure having a space above the liquid level, a bushing disposed through a wall of said tank, a fuel supply pipe communicating with said bushing within the tank, a valve body disposed in' 11s said bushing having a longitudinal bore communicating with said air space, a peripheral channel on said body communicating with said bore and pipe, a valve controlling said bore, a

conduit for admitting liquid fuel to said bore, and

a valve controlling'said conduit.

10. A fuel control'mechanism comprising a valve body defining a passage, a valve control ling one end of said passage, a tubular member extending through said passage and" engaging said valve, a second valve controlling the other end of said passage and mounted on said tubular member, spring means secured to said valve body,

and to the lower end of said tubular member for 1 urging said tubular member and valve thereon in closing directionand a manual actuating member v for said first valve.

WALTER C. LINDEMANN. ADOLPH T. SCHMIDT. 

